Personal Impact ’16

... at the end of the day, CMU graduates leaders.”

President George E. RossCentral Michigan University

John Morris is a December 2014 graduate from Battle Creek who majored in biology/biomedical sciences while also playing on the CMU men’s basketball team for three years. He is working to pursue his graduate degree and career in either dentistry or nursing.

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Dan DigmannProject Lead University Communications

We believe every CMU student has a story to share with you.

After randomly choosing photos from CMU’s Facebook galleries, we connected with the students in them and chatted about their Central Michigan University experiences.

A common theme emerged: CMU is making an impact on each of them, and they, in turn, have become leaders, personally impacting others within and beyond our campus community.

This is what can happen for you at CMU. It happens through more formal leadership opportunities than at any other university in the state (and likely in the nation). It happens through our classes and our student organizations. It happens through our faculty and staff, who inspire, teach, coach and counsel, who know you by name and care about your future.

The students in these photos are putting their stamp on the world. We’re confident you will, too, if you choose.

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CMU taught me to stop waiting and start doing. The more I get involved with programs like Leadership Safari, the more knowledge I can gain. I am proud to inspire people through storytelling and new experiences.”

David WongClinton Township, Michigan

Central Michigan University 4 #LifeAtCentral

David is an integrative public relations major with a minor in event management. He fired up more than 2,000 new CMU students and welcomed them to campus as a Leadership Safari guide. David impressed his Safari peers so much that they recognized him as their top first-year staff member. He is involved with many other programs, such as Alpha Leadership, that will help him to move forward with achieving his ultimate goal of serving as a music festival event planner.

Learn more about CMU leadership programs at cmich.edu/leadership

#LifeAtCentral 5 Central Michigan University

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Ifeoluwaloju ZuriDetroit, Michigan

My instructors and friends at CMU have guided me on my journey to finding the right career. They have introduced me to new opportunities and given me confidence in my artwork so I can inspire people one day, too.”

Learn more about different academic majors at cmich.edu/academics

Ifeoluwaloju is pursuing a bachelor of fine arts degree. Her oil painting – “Koi Fish” – was displayed in CMU’s University Art Gallery after she entered it in Mount Pleasant’s 2014 Art Walk Central art festival and competition. Having the opportunity to feature her artwork in an exhibit enabled her to share her work with the world and help people see art in a different way.


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CMU has a very strong community base, and it has offered me so many opportunities to take advantage of and develop as a leader. This includes everything from having an academic advisor help coordinate my class schedule all the way to faculty and student organizations introducing me to internships.”

Adam BossardEmerson, New Jersey

Learn more about ways to get involved at cmich.edu/lifeatCMU

Adam is a sport management major with a minor in business administration. He has completed five internships, including experiences with sports-related organizations such as Lunar Sports Group Agency and the Rockland Boulders. He also is serving his second season as a student manager of the CMU men’s basketball team, which won the 2015 Mid-American Conference championship.


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I’ve loved all of my classes. Even if it’s a difficult class, it pushes me, and my professors work with me to develop the skills I need to become a better designer.”

Zach StonerPortage, Michigan


Zach is an apparel merchandising and design major who has seen his clothing ideas take off down the runway. After having several of his designs featured in the student-produced Threads fashion show his freshman year, he was chosen to co-produce the show as a sophomore. All this, along with courses that help him fine-tune his designing and sewing abilities, is putting him several steps closer to realizing his goal of launching his own menswear clothing line.

Learn more about academic majors at cmich.edu/academics

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My poetry classes have taken me out of my comfort

zone and allowed me to discover myself. I’m excited

to help others learn about themselves through writing.

CMU also helped me fall in love with American Sign Language, and I’m excited

to transition from being the president of the ASL Society

to being a sign language interpreter.”

Learn more about CMU residence life at cmich.edu/ess/reslife

Rachel StickelClinton Township,

Michigan

Rachel is majoring in English with a concentration in creative writing and has a minor in American Sign Language. When she isn’t pursuing her studies, she works as a desk associate in Calkins Hall to make others feel at home and to build connections within her residence hall community.

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Through the atmosphere of this program, I went from

a student who didn’t care to a student who wants to

learn and be a leader. It no longer is just figuring out a career; it’s more of how

much can I learn and how can I apply it to help and

inspire others?”

Learn more about different academic majors atcmich.edu/academics

Gabriella, seen here working beside professor Rachael Nelson, earned her undergraduate degree in exercise science at CMU and now is pursuing her master’s degree. She is passionate about her field of study. In addition to serving as a teaching assistant, she helps her professors conduct research and develops programs that encourage health promotion.

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Gabriella Bellissimo

Au Gres, Michigan


Eight representatives from Bosch visited to see the Baja car and, through my work at CMU, I was confident in my skills to answer their questions professionally. This connection led to my summer internship with Bosch, and I hope to use that knowledge to improve the automotive industry.”

Mike GollinLivonia, Michigan


Mike is a mechanical engineering major who, since his freshman year, has taken on leading roles with CMU’s Society of Automotive Engineers Baja Team. He spends most days in the Engineering and Technology Building applying what he learned in class and working with his teammates to improve their Baja car for racing. The team has placed as high as second at the international Louisville SAE Midnight Mayhem event.

Learn more about ways to get involved at cmich.edu/lifeatCMU

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Volunteering with Special Olympics and Alternative Breaks has changed my whole outlook on life. I know now that I can have a true impact on the world. I used to think that one person couldn’t make a change in the world, but now I realize it only takes one to start something special.”

Scott ThrunHaslett, Michigan

Check out CMU’s Volunteer Center opportunities at volunteer.cmich.edu

Scott is a marketing major who volunteers with Special Olympics and worked with elementary school students in an after-school program as part of an Alternative Breaks project in Asheville, North Carolina. He wants to work in marketing for a nonprofit organization such as Special Olympics or the YMCA.

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CMU’s positive atmosphere helped me become a better student and a better woman. They provided our team with big-time opportunities to compete against the best athletes in the nation. Those experiences will help me impact thousands of lives when I enter the Women’s National Basketball Association.”

Crystal BradfordInkster, Michigan

Crystal is a sport management major. Throughout her collegiate athletic career, she has shattered records, won championships and earned numerous athletic honors. She received a gold medal with the USA Basketball team at the 2013 World University Games.

Learn more about CMU Athletics at cmuchippewas.com

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Learn more about academic programs at cmich.edu/academics

Brogan is pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees in communication. She also was an outfielder on the CMU softball team, and she isn’t afraid to push herself to discover new experiences. Brogan enrolled in a hip-hop dance class; earned minors in leadership and ethics, values and society; and did advocacy work through student organizations committed to sustainability and improving the environment.

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Learning is more important than the grade you get. I’ve become so aware of social injustices, I can’t just sit back and accept them. My CMU experience has helped me to open myself up and create the changes I want to see in the world.”

Brogan DarwinChelsea, Michigan


CMU has provided me with so many hands-on learning

opportunities to gain experience in my field. I always

have the support I need because it’s not too big or too

small. It’s just right — like in the ’Three Little Bears.‘”

Raquel HarringtonWest Bloomfield, Michigan

For more information about CMU’s diversity efforts, visit cmich.edu/diversity

Raquel is a broadcast and cinematic arts major whose goal is to work for a top 10 news station. She is a news anchor for News Central 34, CMU’s award-winning student-produced nightly news program. She also volunteers for CMU’s Pathways and MI GEAR UP programs to help low-income and first-generation students succeed in postsecondary education.

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The time I’ve spent in the Child Development and Learning Laboratory has altered my view of children’s abilities and how they understand the world. The day I realized that I can make a difference in children’s education by providing them with a developmentally appropriate classroom is the day I decided I was meant to be a preschool teacher.”

Claire KittleAuburn Hills, Michigan

Learn more about academic programs at cmich.edu/academics

Claire is an early childhood development and learning major with an applied business communication minor. She applied what she learned from her experiences in CMU’s Child Development and Learning Laboratory when she worked as a substitute teacher in a preschool classroom during a summer job in Washington, D.C.

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CMU has been a place of growth for me, and it has helped to mold me as a leader. The university offers everything you need to succeed, but it’s up to you to take advantage of it. It’s all about networking and making connections, and I’ve made sure the faculty and administration know who I am. This has opened doors for me to take a stand for myself and to stand for others.”

Demetrius McCloudDetroit, Michigan

Learn more about ways to get involved at cmich.edu/lifeatcmu

Demetrius, a law and economics double major, is a first-generation college student who is making the most of his CMU experiences. He has spent much of his time helping others to do the same. Demetrius has served students as a multicultural adviser, resident assistant, Pathways to Academic Student Success mentor, orientation mentor and Student Government Association senator. He’s done all that while connecting with and befriending faculty members and mentors of his own, including CMU President George E. Ross.

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Laura DuCharmeGrand Blanc, Michigan

Learn more about CMU study abroad at studyabroad.cmich.edu

Laura is a journalism major who serves as the style editor of Grand Central Magazine, a student-run online publication, and as secretary of the CMU chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. She is pursuing a career in magazine journalism.

Before study abroad, I was a shy girl who didn’t like going anywhere alone. Living in London for five months forced me to grow out of that. I gained self-confidence and truly started to believe in myself. I’m more open to different cultures and trying new things, which helps me foster understanding between people from many different walks of life.”

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Learn more about the Honors Program at cmich.edu/honors

Kurtis is a neuroscience and biology/biomedical sciences double major, but the term “major” also applies to his other college activities. He is the head drum major for the Chippewa Marching Band. He says he has the best of both worlds at CMU because he can continue his musical interests while pursuing his academic degree in different areas.

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When I had questions about the Honors

Program, I called the director and he said, ‘Let’s go out to dinner. I’ll come

pick you up.’ That really made me feel like I was

valued and important. Because I’m in a leadership position with the marching

band and am interested in one day becoming a

college professor, I want to work to give that same

feeling back to others.”

Kurtis MaiSaline, Michigan


Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Mount Pleasant, MI 48859 Permit No. 93

Admissions Office Warriner Hall 102 Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI 48859

How will you put your stamp on the world?

cmich.edu

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CMU is an AA/EO institution, providing equal opportunity to all persons, including minorities, females, veterans and individuals with disabilities (see cmich.edu/ocrie). Produced by University Communications and printed by CMU Printing Services. UComm 9347-15,000 (11/15)

Documents

Personal Impact ’16